2. Policy declaration

Candidates in the Practice Based Assessment Pathway must meet all requirements detailed in this policy to be awarded Fellowship of the RACGP.

This policy is authorised by the CEO.

3. Background

3.1 Objective

This policy aims to describe the requirements for Fellowship for Candidates in the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.

3.2 Scope

This policy applies to all Practice Based Assessment Pathway Candidates.

4. Definitions

For the purposes of this policy:

Candidate means a medical practitioner enrolled in the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.

Full time general practice experience comprises a 38-hour minimum working week, over a minimum of four days per week, of which a minimum of 27 hours must be in face-to-face, rostered, patient consultation time undertaking general practice activities. Work periods of less than three consecutive hours, or of less than one month in any one practice, will not be considered. Hours worked beyond this definition of full time will not be considered.

Part time general practice experience is calculated pro-rata against the definition of full time general practice experience. Part time general practice must comprise a 14.5-hour minimum working week, over a minimum of two days per week, of which a minimum of 10.5 hours must be in face-to-face, rostered, patient consultation time undertaking general practice activities. Work periods of less than three consecutive hours, or of less than one month in any one practice, will not be considered.

Comprehensive Australian general practice means:

continuity of care that is person centred, comprehensive and coordinated; focusing on the whole person, and all presenting symptoms;

health promotion and illness prevention services that are based on patient need and the best available evidence;

the diagnosis, treatment and management of the full range of undifferentiated conditions in a diverse range of individuals, families and communities not limited by practice intention or business focus; and

a. Have a minimum of four years and six months full time equivalent general practice experience over the last 10 years, which must include one year full time equivalent in comprehensive Australian General Practice as assessed under the Assessment of General Practice Experience Policy

b. Have employment in comprehensive Australian General Practice, meeting at least the minimum part time requirements for the duration of their candidature on the Practice Based Assessment Pathway. Candidates must disclose any changes to their employment arrangements, practice location or scope of practice to the RACGP. The RACGP will assess the employment changes and determine whether the Candidate will be permitted to continue on the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.

5.3 Assessment requirements

Candidates must:

a. enrol in and attempt the RACGP’s Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) and Key Feature Problems (KFP) within six months of the date of enrolment in the Practice Based Assessment Pathway. Enrolling in and attempting the AKT and KFP cannot be deferred to a subsequent exam cycle

b. enrol in and attempt the Recorded Consultations (RCs) within six months of passing the AKT and KFP. Enrolling in and attempting the RCs cannot be deferred to a subsequent exam cycle

c. pass the AKT, KFP and RCs within three years of the date of enrolment in the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.

Candidates who do not meet these requirements will be subject to clause 7.

5.4 Professional and ethical requirements

The RACGP reserves the right to withhold awarding an applicant Fellowship of the RACGP, if the RACGP reasonably considers the applicant:

a. Hold current Australian medical registration at all times while on the Practice Based Assessment Pathway. Candidates must disclose any restrictions on, or changes to, their medical registration to the RACGP. Failure to do this will be handled as per the Educational Misconduct Policy. Applicants with medical registration restricting them from seeing patients across all genders and all ages cannot fulfil the requirements for Fellowship via the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.

b. Be a financial RACGP Associate member from the time of joining the Practice Based Assessment Pathway and throughout their candidature.

6. Changing Fellowship pathway

Candidates can only be enrolled in one RACGP Fellowship pathway at a time. If a Candidate seeks to participate in a different Fellowship pathway, they must resign their candidature in the Practice Based Assessment Pathway and apply for entry into an alternative pathway. If a change in pathway is accepted, the Candidate must then meet all of the requirements of the new pathway to be awarded Fellowship of the RACGP.

7. Termination from the Practice Based Assessment Pathway

7.1 Candidates who fail to meet the requirements of the Practice Based Assessment Pathway or whom fail to maintain adequate progression may be terminated from the Practice Based Assessment Pathway.

7.2 Candidates who are terminated from the Practice Based Assessment Pathway may apply for re-entry into the Practice Based Assessment Pathway or an alternative RACGP Fellowship pathway.

8. Awarding of Fellowship of the RACGP

The determination to award Fellowship of the RACGP is made by Council and is dependent on the recommendation of the Board of Censors.

9. Related policies, documents and legislation

All policies and procedures related to the Practice Based Assessment Pathway are available on our policy page.

10. Administrative procedures

10.1 Access to published policy

This policy will be available via the RACGP website as detailed in clause 9.

10.2 Promulgation of published policy

Relevant staff members will be provided communications explaining the function and role of this policy.